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Was Mithridates a good general?

For all the military achievements of his reign, Mithridates was not himself a great general. Most of his victories were won by his generals, most notably Diophantus in the wars around the Black Sea and the brothers Archelaus and Neoptolemus during the First Mithridatic War.

Was Mithridates the father of toxicology?

Mithridates VI Eupator, father of the empirical toxicology.

Who defeated Mithridates?

PompeyPompey finally defeated Mithridates at a place named Dasteira, which was later called Nicopolis, "City of victory". But still, Mithridates was not dispirited. Early in 65, he reached his possessions north of the Black Sea, which were governed by his son Machares.

Who took poison to become immune?

Mithridates VIThe word is derived from Mithridates VI, the King of Pontus, who so feared being poisoned that he regularly ingested small doses, aiming to develop immunity.

Who first discovered poison?

Unlike many civilizations, records of Egyptian knowledge and use of poisons can only be dated back to approximately 300 BC. However, it is believed that the earliest known Egyptian pharaoh, Menes, studied the properties of poisonous plants and venoms, according to early records.

Who first used poison?

Around 1550 B.C., Egyptians scribbled numerous recipes for poison in hieroglyphics in the Ebers Papyrus, one of the earliest medical documents. It's believed the first known Egyptian pharaoh, Menes, experimented with deadly toxins, as did the last, Cleopatra, who supposedly took her own life with a poison asp.

When was Mithridates defeated?

Roman armies led by Lucius Licinius Lucullus (75–66 BC) then by Pompey (66–63 BC). War ended with Roman victory and the death of Mithridates VI in 63 BC.

Who defeated Mithridates VI?

PompeyIn 66 Lucullus was superseded by Pompey, who completely defeated both Mithradates and Tigranes.

Who won the first mithridatic war?

In this conflict, the Kingdom of Pontus and many Greek cities rebelling against Roman rule were led by Mithridates VI of Pontus against Rome and the allied Kingdom of Bithynia. The war lasted five years and ended in a Roman victory which forced Mithridates to abandon all of his conquests and return to Pontus.

What happened to Mithridates?

Mithridates V was assassinated in about 120 BC in Sinope, poisoned by unknown persons at a lavish banquet which he held.

Is Iocane real?

We report a retrospective case series of exposures to iocane powder, a deadly, odorless, tasteless, and absolutely fictional poison [1]. A 10-year review of an imaginary Sicilian Poison Center database revealed 32 exposures, coincidentally all ingestions from wine goblets.

Is anyone immune to venom?

In the mammalian realm, hedgehogs, skunks, ground squirrels, and pigs have shown resistance to venom. Some scientists even believe the lowly opossum, which wields a venom-neutralizing peptide in its blood, may hold the key to developing a universal antivenom.

Who was the Father of toxicology?

Mathieu Joseph Bonaventure Orfila (1787–1853), often called the "Father of Toxicology," was the first great 19th-century exponent of forensic medicine.

Who was the founder of toxicology?

Paracelsus, born Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, is credited as the founder of toxicology. His premise of poisons was that “All things are poison, and nothing is without poison; only the dose permits something not to be poisonous.” Simply stated, “The dose makes the poison”.

Who is the Father of Father of toxicology?

Paracelsus, Philippus Theophrastus Aureolus Bombastus von HohenheimParacelsus, Philippus Theophrastus Aureolus Bombastus von Hohenheim, the “father of chemistry and the reformer of materia medica,” the “Luther of Medicine,” the “godfather of modern chemotherapy,” the founder of medicinal chemistry, the founder of modern toxicology, a contemporary of Leonardo da Vinci, Martin Luther, ...

Who is known as the Father of toxicity?

Paracelsus, pictured here, was a 16th century physician and is considered to be the “Father of Toxicology.” Toxicology as a distinct scientific discipline is fairly modern; however, knowledge of poisons and poisoning incidents date back to ancient times.

Who is Mithridates?

Mithridates is one of those extremely fascinating kings from our past who few know about today, outside of ancient history lovers. He may not get the publicity of famous people like Cleopatra or Spartacus, but Mithridates certainly captured the imaginations of Roman writers. From his birth all the way until his death, accounts of Mithridates' life were filled with legends, prophesies, and folklore. But unlike a mythical figure like King Arthur, there was much more truth to the tales ... or at least exaggerated truth.

Why did Mithridates take poison?

Mithridates strongly suspected that his mother, or other enemies in the royal court, would try to eliminate him with poison like his father. So, while he traveled through the remotest parts of the kingdom with his close friends, Mithridates began to take in minor doses of the poisons and toxins he found in order to build up his immunity to them as much as possible.

Why was Mithridates the Poison King?

For this reason, he was known to some as Mithridates the Great, but his far more intriguing nickname was the Poison King. After a traumatic experience in his childhood, Mithridates became obsessed with toxins, venoms, and poisons of all sorts. This obsession never ceased and drove him to become one of the top experts in toxicology at the time.

Why did Mithridates order the execution of the Romans?

Mithridates ordered the brutal execution because the animosity and hatred of the Romans had reached a breaking point throughout Asia Minor. The Romans had taken over most the region and were not kind to the people they dominated. Many suffered from the vicious amount of taxes the Romans forced them to pay, pushing them into lives of utter poverty and squalor. The people of Asia Minor were ready to revolt against their foreign overlords, and Mithridates knew it.

What did Mithridates become obsessed with?

After a traumatic experience in his childhood, Mithridates became obsessed with toxins, venoms, and poisons of all sorts. This obsession never ceased and drove him to become one of the top experts in toxicology at the time. Though his life was filled with impressive accomplishments, it was not without sorrow.

How many horses did Mithridates drive?

As an adult, Mithridates was so strong and skilled that he could drive a chariot pulled by ten horses, an extraordinary accomplishment. Plus, ancient accounts also claimed he was an excellent boxer, wrestler, and swimmer, especially in his youth. Poison was not just work and survival for the Poison King.

How many children did Mithridates have?

Mithridates was very busy in the bedroom as well, with 20 known children throughout his life born from several different wives and concubines. His last queen, Hypsicratea, also fought from horseback like a legendary Amazonian warrior.

What kingdom was Mithradates in?

Both districts were added to the Pontic kingdom. To the Greeks of the Tauric Chersonese and the Cimmerian Bosporus (Crimea and Straits of Kerch), Mithradates was a deliverer from their Scythian enemies, and they gladly surrendered their independence in return for the protection given to them by his armies.

What was Mithradates' first move?

Mithradates’ first move there was to partition Paphlagonia and Galatia between himself and Nicomedes III of Bithynia, but next he quarreled with Nicomedes over Cappadocia. On two occasions he was successful at first but then deprived of his advantage by Roman intervention ( c. 95 and 92).

What was Mithradates's character?

Mithradates was a man of great stature and physical strength, a brave fighter, and a keen hunter. He was also ruthless and cruel. But it cannot be denied that Mithradates was a ruler of astonishing energy and determination, or that he possessed political skill of a high order. That he was one of the few men to offer a serious challenge to the Roman Republic is sufficient testimony to his ability. He organized the forces at his disposal very effectively, and he had a good grasp of strategy. He was unlucky in having to face three exceptionally brilliant Roman generals; unlucky, too, in coming to power at a time when the Hellenistic world was in the final stage of its collapse. It is quite conceivable that had he been born a century earlier he could have constructed an enduring Greco-Asiatic empire. A cunning, brutal tyrant, he concerned himself solely with maintaining and strengthening his own power. He posed as the champion of Hellenism, but this was mainly to further his political ambitions; it is no proof that he was deeply imbued with Greek culture or that he felt a mission to promote its extension within his domains. Hellenism made advances in Pontus during his reign, as it had under his predecessors, but this was a natural process. He treated all alike; Greek, Roman, and Asian were welcome at his court provided that they could be of use to him (his military subordinates were mostly Greeks, though in later years he employed several Roman renegades), but he trusted no one. Just as it is impossible to speak of his favouring one religion or culture above another, so it is impossible to believe that he had any notion of bringing Greeks and Asians closer together in a new kind of political and social system. His posing as a liberator of the Greeks from Roman oppression and, later, his encouragement of social revolution in the Greek cities of the province of Asia can only be interpreted, in both cases, as the actions of an opportunist seeking immediate political advantages.

When did Mithradates start his conquest?

About 115 bce, she was deposed and thrown into prison by her son, who thereafter ruled alone. Mithradates began his long career of conquest by dispatching successful expeditions to the Crimean Peninsula and to Colchis (on the eastern shore of the Black Sea). Both districts were added to the Pontic kingdom.

Who was the sixth Pontic ruler?

Mithradates the Great was the sixth—and last—Pontic ruler by that name. Mithradates (meaning “gift of [the god] Mithra”) was a common name among Anatolian rulers of the age. When Mithradates VI succeeded his father, Mithradates Euergetes, in 120 bce, he was then only a boy, and for a few years his mother ruled in his place. About 115 bce, she was deposed and thrown into prison by her son, who thereafter ruled alone. Mithradates began his long career of conquest by dispatching successful expeditions to the Crimean Peninsula and to Colchis (on the eastern shore of the Black Sea). Both districts were added to the Pontic kingdom. To the Greeks of the Tauric Chersonese and the Cimmerian Bosporus (Crimea and Straits of Kerch), Mithradates was a deliverer from their Scythian enemies, and they gladly surrendered their independence in return for the protection given to them by his armies. In Anatolia, however, the royal dominions had been considerably diminished after the death of Mithradates V: Paphlagonia had freed itself, and Phrygia ( c. 116 bce) had been linked to the Roman province of Asia. Mithradates’ first move there was to partition Paphlagonia and Galatia between himself and Nicomedes III of Bithynia, but next he quarreled with Nicomedes over Cappadocia. On two occasions he was successful at first but then deprived of his advantage by Roman intervention ( c. 95 and 92). While appearing to acquiesce, he resolved to expel the Romans from Asia. A first attempt to depose Nicomedes IV of Bithynia, who was completely subservient to the Romans, was frustrated ( c. 90). Then Nicomedes, instigated by Rome, attacked Pontic territory, and Mithradates, after protesting in vain to the Romans, finally declared war (88).

Who was Mithradates the Great?

Mithradates VI Eupator, in full Mithradates VI Eupator Dionysus, byname Mithradates the Great, Mithradates also spelled Mithridates, (died 63 bce, Panticapaeum [now in Ukraine]), king of Pontus in northern Anatolia (120–63 bce ). Under his energetic leadership, Pontus expanded to absorb several of its small neighbours and, briefly, ...

Who was the Roman general who defeated Marius Aurelius Cotta?

Hostilities were suspended, but disputes constantly occurred, and in 74 a general war broke out. Mithradates defeated Marius Aurelius Cotta, the Roman consul, at Chalcedon, but Lucullus worsted him outside Cyzicus (73) and drove him, in 72, to take refuge in Armenia with his son-in-law Tigranes. After scoring two great victories at Tigranocerta (69) and Artaxata (68), Lucullus was disconcerted by the defeat of his lieutenants and by mutiny among his troops. In 66 Lucullus was superseded by Pompey, who completely defeated both Mithradates and Tigranes.

What was the main summertime residence of the Arsacid royalty?

Ecbatana became the main summertime residence for the Arsacid royalty — the same city which had served as the capital of the Medes and as summer capital of the Achaemenid Empire. Mithridates I may have made Ctesiphon the new capital of his enlarged empire.

Where did Mithridates I establish his capital?

Whereas Hecatompylos had served as the first Parthian capital, Mithridates I established royal residences at Seleucia, Ecbatana, Ctesiphon and his newly founded city, Mithradatkert ( Nisa ), where the tombs of the Arsacid kings were built and maintained.

What is Mithridates I's portrait on?

Mithridates I's portrait on the obverse of a tetradrachm, showing him wearing a beard and a royal Hellenstic diadem on his head. The reverse shows Heracles - Verethragna, holding a club in his left hand and a cup in his right hand.

Where did Mithridates I retire?

Mithridates I shortly afterwards retired to Hyrcania, whilst his forces subdued the kingdoms of Elymais and Characene and occupied Susa.

What is the name of the archer on the obverse of the coin?

The Arsacid monarchs preceding Mithridates I are depicted on the obverse of their coins with a soft cap, known as the bashlyk, which had also been worn by Achaemenid satraps. On the reverse, there is a seated archer, dressed in an Iranian riding costume.

What is the elephant on the reverse of a coin?

Bronze coin of Mithridates I, with the image of an elephant on the reverse, possibly as a celebration of the conquest of Bactria. He first turned his sights on the Greco-Bactrian Kingdom which had been considerably weakened as a result of its wars against the neighbouring Sogdians, Drangianans and Indians.

What does the name Mithridates mean?

Name. "Mithridates" is the Greek attestation of the Iranian name Mihrdāt, meaning "given by Mithra ", the name of the ancient Iranian sun god. The name itself is derived from Old Iranian Miθra-dāta-.

What would happen if Mithridates had a panacea?

If Mithridates really did possess a panacea, then the wise king would have prudently kept that knowledge a guarded secret. First of all, many others would wish to steal the recipe from him, and considering that Mithridates had a propensity towards poisoning his foes, he would have had good reason to hide his theriac from his adversaries. Secondly, by keeping the concoction a secret, he could find out who his foes were after their failed attempts to assassinate him using toxins. However, instead of keeping the mithridate's existence confidential, it became widely known, which ostensibly halted many of his enemies' assassination attempts. This was probably part of the shrewd king's plans all along. What is the next best thing to having a cure-all antitoxin? Publicly lying about having a cure-all antitoxin to make poisoning attempts seem pointless.

Why did Mithridates exercise?

Consequently, as Mithridates grew older, he sought to fortify himself against assassination attempts. He exercised to increase his strength, carried a weapon, and dabbled with toxicology.

Did Mithridates discover an antitoxin?

Those who believe that Mithridates did discover an effective, comprehensive antitoxin claim that the king's botched suicide is proof. In 63 BC, as it became clear that his life was doomed, he attempted suicide by ingesting poison, but he failed to die as a result. It is likely that he only possessed one dose, and he shared the single helping with his two daughters. Yes, the princesses died, and he only became ill. However, it should be noted that he was a large and powerfully built man, and his daughters were likely much smaller, which could explain why the leftover poison was not enough to smite Mithridates. At least a full dose would have been required for a man of his size.

Who was Mithridates the Great?

King Mithridates VI of Pontus, also known as Mithradates VI Eupator Dionysus and Mithridates the Great (135–63 BCE, r. 120-63 BCE) was a dogged Roman foe for much of his life. In 88 BCE, he orchestrated the mass killing of up to 150,000 Roman and Italian noncombatants in a single day, if the number of victims Plutarch gave is to be believed, and over the course of decades, he was embroiled in intermittent, bitter conflicts with the Roman Republic. Mithridates' relentless attempts at empire building and his pugnacious foreign policy ensured his place in the annals of history, but his rampant paranoia and obsession with toxicology also guaranteed that his name would forever be associated with poison.

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Why did Mithridates ask his bodyguard to kill him?

One account states that in desperation he asked his Gallic bodyguard and friend to kill him using a sword. The Romans recorded an alternate history reporting that while Mithridates was weak from the poison ingested, assassins stabbed him to death.

What did Mithridates invent?

He invented an intricate "universal antidote" against poisoning.

Why was Mithridates concerned about assassination attempts?

All his life, Mithridates worried that he was the target of assassination attempts. Since royal court intrigues were relatively common , his concerns were justified. Legend has it he was guarded in his sleep by a horse, a bull, and a stag , which would make a terrible racket whenever anyone approached the royal bed. He exercised to increase his strength, carried a weapon , and continued studying toxicology by researching and examining all known toxins. Supposedly he tested potential remedies on prisoners and his work paid off.

How many wives did Mithridates have?

In total, he had at least six wives, numerous mistresses, and several children. All his life, Mithridates worried that he was the target of assassination attempts.

What was the most complex and highly sought-after preparation during the Middle Ages and Renaissance era?

Read Later. Print. Mithridate was one of the most complex and highly sought-after preparations during the Middle Ages and Renaissance era. This somewhat mythical, ancient tonic which contained more than 60 ingredients, was used for centuries, particularly in Italy and France as an antidote. Petrus Andreas Matthiolus, naturalist ...

How did Mithridates' mother die?

He overthrew his mother and brother, imprisoning both, and became the sole ruler of Pontus. His mother died in prison of natural causes, while his brother may have been tried for treason and executed. Mithridates gave both royal funerals. Mithridates first married his younger sister Laodice, who was 16 years old.

How many ingredients are in mithridate?

The mithridate was said to contain up to 65 ingredients ( Tryfonov / Adobe Stock) All versions listed many ingredients as well as the required quantities which were then "pounded and taken up in honey. A piece the size of an almond is given in wine.

Why did Mithridates VI use bodyguards?

While some rulers might have preferred to employ bodyguards to protect themselves, Mithridate s VI went a different way to ensure that he would be safe not only from assassination but also from poison. Instead of just hiring a taste tester who would check his food for poison, Mithridates VI instead slowly accustomed himself to various poisons to ...

What would happen if Laodice VI appointed his brother as King?

If she appointed his brother as the king, it could potentially lead to a civil war, which Laodice VI could prevent simply by killing the eldest son. Mithridates VI went into hiding for quite some time, ensuring that he would be safe from his mother’s grasp until he was ready to try to take the throne.

Why did Mithridates VI put his brother to death?

His brother would also be put to death soon after, to ensure that Mithridates VI would be able to hold his claim to the throne securely. As the new king of Pontus, Mithridates VI set about bringing serious expansion and prosperity to his people.

How did Mithridates VI establish Cappadocia?

Mithridates VI had been working to establish Cappadocia as his own territory, through political maneuvering and the careful arranging of marriages.

Which two countries demanded that Cappadocia be restored to independence?

However, Rome demanded that both Mithridates VI and Nicomedes release their grip on the region and restore Cappadocia to being an independent state.

What did Pontus do to the Scythians?

He moved across the Black Sea and began to fight the Scythians, in the process taking possession of the Bosporoan kingdom. They traded their freedom in exchange for protection against the Scythian people. With each victory, Pontus would grow in size and power.

Why is paranoia a virtue?

For rulers who lived during the era of Ancient Rome, paranoia was a virtue. With betrayal, assassination, and backstabbing happening on a constant basis to those who were in power, one would be wise to develop methods of self-protection.

Why did Mithradates VI become obsessed with poison?

King Mithradates VI had a good reason to become obsessed with poison. The previous ruler and king, Mithridates V, had been assassinated by poison at a banquet in 120 B.C. in the city of Sinope, the same place where Mithridates VI was born. Now, of course, King Mithradates VI who had plenty of enemies feared he might one day succumb ...

Why did King Mithradates VI mix different herbs together?

In order to learn the secrets of poisons, King Mithradates VI started to mix different herbs together. He developed lethal poisons and then took small, self-administered, non-lethal doses to ensure that his immune system would be able to survive.

What was the purpose of King Mithradates VI?

Living in times when slipping poison into food or drink was a reality that had been one of the choice methods of assassination for thousands of years, King Mithradates VI began a rigid program to educate himself on every form of poison and that knowledge would later become his greatest enemy. King Mithradates VI Of Pontus was a descent ...

Why did Mithridates take poison?

He was obsessed with poison and took small doses of a specially prepared poison to help him develop a resistance if some should try to poison him. Mithridates - the toxicologist found art of preventing and counteracting poisioning.

What did Mithridates do to Rome?

He impressed by eating poison, murdered his own mother to become king and he was Rome's worst enemy. King Mithridates hated the Roman Empire and he sent their army west to crush the "Romans, the enemy of all humanity.". Living in times when slipping poison into food or drink was a reality that had been one of the choice methods ...

How long did the Mithradates war last?

Mithradates’ wars against Rome lasted four decades, engulfing three continents. In the end, Rome was victorious and King Mithradates VI lost his kingdom and his life, but he pushed the Roman Republic, already reeling from slave revolts and domestic violence, over the brink into self-destruction and forced reinvention.

What is the practice of mithridatism?

In our present day, this practice has become known as, Mithridatism which is a system that is practiced in parts of the world and in unique fields, such as snake handlers or people who work with poisons of a special nature. Mithradates’ wars against Rome lasted four decades, engulfing three continents.

Overview

Name

Background

Reign

Coinage and Imperial ideology

Building activities

The Xong-e Noruzi relief

Legacy